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* UPDATED x1 - Pritzker responds * State schools superintendent said board will “take immediate steps to address this urgent problem” of forced student isolation

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* From the weekly message of State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala…

ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune published the results of an investigation this morning into the use of isolated time-out and physical restraint in Illinois schools. The stories from students and parents and the data the reporters collected and analyzed are appalling, inexcusable, and deeply saddening. The practices of isolated-time out and physical restraint have been misused and overused to a shocking extent; this must stop today.

ISBE condemns the unlawful use of time-out and restraint, which includes using these practices as punishment. ISBE will take action against any school district that is violating the law.

The Illinois State Board of Education will take immediate steps to address this urgent problem and implement stronger protections for students’ mental, physical, and social-emotional health.

As educators, we work hard to make our schools trauma-responsive – but first and foremost, our schools must be trauma-free. Our schools must be places where all students feel and are safe.

…Adding… The ISBE knew this story was coming and waited until after the fallout hit to issue a statement of outrage. From the original story…

Informed of the investigation’s findings, the Illinois State Board of Education said it would issue guidance clarifying that seclusion should be used only in emergencies. Officials acknowledged they don’t monitor the use of isolated timeout and said they would need legislative action to do so.

…Adding… To the handful of folks defending this barbaric practice in comments, I point you to this passage from the original article…

In Illinois, it’s legal for school employees to seclude students in a separate space — to put them in “isolated timeout” — if the students pose a safety threat to themselves or others. Yet every school day, workers isolate children for reasons that violate the law, an investigation by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois has found.

Children were sent to isolation after refusing to do classwork, for swearing, for spilling milk, for throwing Legos. School employees use isolated timeout for convenience, out of frustration or as punishment, sometimes referring to it as “serving time.”

*** UPDATE *** Gov. JB Pritzker was asked for comment today by reporters at an unrelated event. He called the forced isolation practice “appalling,” said it was “unacceptable” and pledged to “make a change.”

Pritzker said the State Board of Education will be implementing emergency rules for now. He said long-term solutions, like perhaps more funding, would be looked at, but wanted some short-term issues addressed as soon as possible.

“Under my watch these are things that should not happen,” Pritzker said.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:09 am

Comments

If the Chicago Police Union were at fault for covering for their rogue officers, is their any accountability on the part of the CTU for this?

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:18 am
===The ISBE knew this story was coming and waited until after the fallout hit to issue a statement of outrage.===

“Prepare a statement of outrage after it’s out in the open”?

Is this an insight to the crisis management?

No words.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:22 am
===is their any accountability on the part of the CTU for this? ===

CPS outlawed these rooms a while back. So, stop it.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:25 am
= is their [sic] any accountability on the part of the CTU for this =

Chicago Public Schools are not mentioned in the story at all, only suburban and downstate schools. Reading is fundamental…

Comment by cover Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:25 am
@downstate from the article:

A few school districts in Illinois prohibit seclusion, including Chicago Public Schools, which banned it 11 years ago.

Comment by B Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:27 am
Downstate -

CPS is mentioned in the story because it does not place children in solitary confinement.

However, several downstate school districts are mentioned.

So, look in the mirror buddy, and look around.

Also, teachers do not institute disciplinary policies. Superintendents and school boards do, and principals implement them.

So, aim higher.

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:28 am
—only suburban and downstate schools.—

Same issue, just a question for the IEA.

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:30 am
If ISBE keeps lying and concealing, they’re going to end up with a reputation like DCFS.

Comment by Phil King Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:35 am
It is disappointing to see this administration repeatedly fail to pro-actively advocate for children or take steps to keep them safe unless stories break in the Tribune, Sun-Times or Capitolfax.

Generally, they have done an exceptional job, but on this one most important point they continue to come up short.

How long has ISBE known this was a problem? How many additional children were tortured while they waited to see how and when the story broke. I really want to know. Days, weeks, months?

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:37 am
==just a question for the IEA==

You just can’t help yourself can you? The ultimate problem is what a school district allows. If you want to direct your ire at someone you should direct it at the districts as a whole instead of these games you are attempting to play.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:40 am
No, Downstate.

It’s an issue for school boards, superintendents and principals. The local unions do not set disciplinary policy. As far as we know, teachers were following the policy set by others.

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:40 am
Jeez, inmates in a Florida prison who have a failure to communicate are not treated this badly.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:44 am
“you should direct it at the districts”

At some point should members of the teacher’s union have raised their voice in concern. It’s akin to a hospital, with a unionized workforce treating patients horrifically. At some point, I would think the employees (in this case, union workers with job protection) would raise a stink.

I’m not saying it’s solely the IEA’s fault, but their members were complicit.

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:46 am
I do not condone the use of these isolation “rooms”, but if a student is being a constant disruption to the class where the teacher cannot effectively do his or her job, then what would be the appropriate consequence? Also, it should be taken into consideration that many schools do not have the necessary trained personnel (Guidance counsellors, pyschologists, social workers) to effectively handle these situations. To further complicate, SB 100 makes suspensions (especially students with disabiliites and minorities) difficult. So, we have students that need attention, but have a lack of trained personnel to help, and cannot send them home to their parents. Not good.

I am 100% on board with banning plywood boxes or closests. THe ISBE has pulled their head out of sand and politicans want to take swift action is nice. However, how to help these students without hindering the educational experience for all is much more complicated, then just saying stop doing it.

Comment by Teacher Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:47 am
==with a unionized workforce==

You are turning this into an anti-union diatribe. Stop it already. It’s just sad and you aren’t to be taken seriously on this issue.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:50 am
Teacher (and others), this is not the practice of taking a disruptive student into a separate office or classroom to work with them on their behavior away from the rest of the class. This is taking that kid (often special ed) and locking them alone in a small room for hours as punishment. That’s just barbaric.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:53 am
==what would be the appropriate consequence==

Well it’s certainly not an isolation room. I’ve not seen anyone suggest that disruptive students should not be dealt with. When I was a kid there was something called a principal’s office which we were sent to. If a school administrator is not able to do his or her job then perhaps they should be replaced. I’m really getting tired of reading these stories about isolation rooms or school resource officers engaging in excessive use of force on students. Schools are failing this group of children. Stop being lazy and simply throwing the kid away. Deal with it professionally.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 10:53 am
This should be an interesting topic of discussion for the thousands of school administrators, superintendents and school board members heading to Chicago today for the Illinois Association of School Boards and Illinois Association of School Administrators annual meetings.

Comment by Wylie Coyote Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:03 am
I am going to go out an a limb here and suggest that teachers who go into special education do not do so and get those certifications to put kids in confinement.
We provide the staffing for better options, better options will be used.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:04 am
“I’m really getting tired of reading these stories”

Perhaps you should talk to an administrator in a title 1 school to find out why some of these procedures may be necessary.

I worked in a school that had(probably still has) an isolation room. In my years there I recall it being used twice. Both those times it was used properly. The student was a threat to not only others, but themself. This is not “bad in class” but pick up chairs and throwing them at students bad.

I guess instead of restraining, they should have done what demoralize wants and sit there having kumbaya while chairs, siccors and other objects are being thrown at you.

Now with that said, most all of the reporting and news stories are how these practices are either being used incorrectly and those practices need to be stopped.

To put it simply: student physically harming others = ok to restrain. Student not physically harming others = not ok to restrain.

Comment by Person 8 Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:13 am
==why some of these procedures may be necessary.==

An isolation room is never necessary. It’s child abuse. How anyone can possibly defend the practice is beyond me.

==why some of these procedures may be necessary.==

An isolation room can never be used properly.

==sit there having kumbaya==

Who said that. I certainly didn’t. So stop putting words in people’s mouths. Nobody has said a student who is being disruptive should not be dealt with. Re-read my comment because that’s exactly what I said.

You want to defend this practice? Be my guest. It says a lot about your morality.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:23 am
=== If a student is being a constant disruption to the class where the teacher cannot effectively do his or her job, then what would be the appropriate consequence ===

These are students with special needs, and you are still approaching it from a disciplinary stand point.

As long as your principal has the option of using torture chambers as a special education tool, you will never get the social workers, paraprofessionals, teaching assistance and professional training you need to become a good teacher.

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:27 am
If your agency’s goal is to have a prepared statement of outrage in the event this becomes public, or in anticipation of it dropping, you’re doing governing wrong and believe the PR is most important.

It’s troubling to the governing and process.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:31 am
To the update;

Did the governor know about the prepared “Outrage” response that was held until things became public?

Maybe a clarification of a timeline?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:46 am
“It’s child abuse. ”
“An isolation room can never be used properly.”

Wrong. If it’s for the safety of the child and property authorities are alerted, it is not.

You want to be the morality police? Be my guest. Just shows you have a lack of knowledge, intelligence, and understanding about the types of behaviors and threats that go on in schools.

I guess you’re ok with a student stabbing other students with scissors then turning it on themselves and not being restrained until proper authorities arrive? Is that the moral thing to do?

I’m not going to go full detail in the case, but it just gets worse from there.

Comment by Person 8 Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 11:59 am
“Who said that. I certainly didn’t. ”

“When I was a kid there was something called a principal’s office which we were sent to.”

Comment by Person 8 Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:04 pm
=These are students with special needs, and you are still approaching it from a disciplinary stand point.

As long as your principal has the option of using torture chambers as a special education tool, you will never get the social workers, paraprofessionals, teaching assistance and professional training you need to become a good teacher.=

Sorry @Thomas Paine but that is a bit too much hyperbole for me. With respect.

As described in the isolation in padded rooms is totally unacceptable, poor practice, and illegal. They are nothing but a renamed time-out room, a practice that should have gone away long ago.. Apparently some haven’t figured that out. I would not go so far as to say it is torture. My opinion and with respect.

Isolation can be an effective tool in the effort to curb disruptive students. But in using the term isolation, it is only meant as isolation from other students. Not left alone in a locked or padded room. The loss of an audience or social interaction for a short period can be effective in changing behavior, but it comes with adult supervision and not for special needs students with emotional or other behavior or mental health issues.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:12 pm
Slow down. You are painting with a broad brush. Most of the school districts in my area don’t even have isolated time out rooms. Used properly they are for students who are immediately physically aggressive and a danger to themselves, other students, or the adults working with them. The alternative is a physical hold by a trained adult or team of adults which is more dangerous to the child and to the adult.

Comment by Marseilles Mike Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:17 pm
==As long as your principal has the option of using torture chambers as a special education tool, you will never get the social workers, paraprofessionals, teaching assistance and professional training you need to become a good teacher.==

This.

There was a case in mid-2005 where an Illinois judge actually ordered that an electric shocker be used on a man with autism in order to prevent his banging his head on walls when upset.

It actually “worked.” All you’d have to do is pick up the shocker…

But at a horrible cost.

As soon as there was a green light for using electric shock, the imperative for finding an alternative way to keep him safe disappeared.

What’s the likelihood that any staff operating under this order could build the rapport necessary to teach this man a different way, ever?

Comment by yinn Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:21 pm
=== I would not go so far as to say it is torture. My opinion and with respect. ===

“Isolation was my personal hell.” - Rep Carroll

With respect, MS Mill, lots of people who have never been waterboarded say it isn’t torture either.

Rep. Carroll was placed into an isolation room day-after-day, so I think he would know.

A broom closet is just a broom closet until you lock a child inside for hours, then it becomes a tool of torture used to assert control over children.

It’s not hyperbole.

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:26 pm
===Slow down===

Bite me.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:28 pm
===The alternative is a ===

The alternative is what Hope School does https://capitolfax.com/2019/11/20/what-in-the-heck-is-going-at-the-kaskaskia-special-education-district/

You need your soul examined.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:34 pm
Since I have been bitten and my soul is in question my point is that the majority of schools, at least in my area don’t use isolated time out rooms. I am across the hall from a wonderful sensory room for special students to decompress with a swing and a ball pit. I tried to logically explain the only appropriate use of an isolated time out room. I am sorry I tried.

Comment by Marseilles Mike Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 12:42 pm
“Marseilles” Mike-

You are blissfully ignorant.

According to the Tribune story, the LaSalle Putnam Alliance, a special education district which serves special education students across LaSalle County, used “isolated timeouts” 490 times across roughly 300 days of instruction. A full 63% of those timeouts were not prompted by safety according to reviewers that spent thousands of hours revieiwng detailed record.

Last time I checked, Marseilles was in LaSalle County..

Would you like to revise your statemen or call your school superintendent first?

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 1:16 pm
===Would you like to revise your statemen or call your school superintendent first?===

lol

Feel the burn.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 1:19 pm
Every School Board President should be in contact with their school district Superintendent about this issue. The School Board can stop this type of practice much sooner than any law. - Let’s use local control to the children’s advantage here!

Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 1:26 pm
Is ISBE an agency where the current Administration left most of not all senior staff in place and now the Governor’s must feign outrage when they behave exactly as they always have?

Comment by Annon3 Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 1:31 pm
@Thomas Paine- your comparison to waterboarding is absurd and diminishes your argument.

LaSalle county is the state?

My position is that this practice is wrong and illegal. Those responsible- teachers and admin- should be appropriately disciplined.

Politicians swooping in with new legislation is their typical response but does not really mean actual change.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 2:36 pm
==I guess you’re ok with a student stabbing other students with scissors then turning it on themselves and not being restrained until proper authorities arrive?==

If you are going to be purposefully dense then you probably shouldn’t be participating in this conversation. You are utilizing examples that aren’t even part of this discussion so go away.

Go back and read really, really slowly what we are talking about here - the kinds of behaviors we are talking about here - and then come back and comment intelligently about this subject. If you still want to defend the use of these rooms in those circumstances then, yes, I question your morality.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 3:27 pm
===so go away===

Hey, that’s my job.

Go away.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 3:32 pm
@JS Mill -

I am not comparing waterboarding to indeterminate solitary confinement.

I am comparing your ignorance of whether indeterminate solitary confinement constitutes torture to the ignorance of those who argued waterboarding does not constitute torture.

The UN has already declared the solitary confinement of children in penal systems “torture” when it involves periods of of 22 to 24 hours a day.

Others have been calling solitary confinement “cruel and unusual punishment” for decades.

Again, Rep Carroll has been there. Why do you ignore him?

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Nov 20, 19 @ 3:33 pm